Rihanna ran through her pop and R&B hits, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder partnered with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Kendrick Lamar was enthusiastic and energetic during his hour-long set at the Global Citizen Festival in New York, cbc.ca informs. 

Metallica, Ellie Goulding, Usher and Yandel also performed familiar songs Saturday at the free event on the Great Lawn in Central Park. The multi-hour show aired live on MSNBC. Demi Lovato replaced Selena Gomez, who is taking a break from the spotlight to focus on her health.

The annual event is an ongoing effort to help end poverty by the year 2030, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Fans earned free tickets by promoting the importance of education. The event was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek Pinault, Chelsea Handler, Priyanka Chopra and Hugh Jackman and his actress-wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

Rihanna closed the show with a number of her smash hits, from We Found Love to Umbrella to the recent Needed Me. Most of the performers thanked the feverish audience for doing acts of kindness to earn the tickets.